The NFL this afternoon awarded CBS the Thursday night package, picking the network over competing bids from ABC, Fox, NBC and Turner. It is not known how much CBS paid for the package, but sources said the initial bids were in the high $200M range for the year. The agreement is for the '14 season with an additional year at the NFL's option. CBS will carry eight early-season games that will be simulcast on NFL Network. NFL Network will carry eight late-season games, two of which will be on Saturdays.

So, initial bids for one season/16 games were for more $200 million. The winning bid, by definition, wasn't lower. That makes those 16 games — only eight of which will actually air on CBS — more valuable than the 100-ish NHL games broadcast on NBC and NBC Sports each season; the average value of the NHL's 10-year deal with NBC Sports, which ends in 2021, is, go figure, about $200 million.

And hockey is doing fine; revenues are way up, the salary cap is rising, the league has a $5.2 billion Canadian TV deal in its pocket and everyone is happy. Still, though — 16 extra games of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms in the "high $200M range." Jeez.